PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 155 



slightly V-shaped at or near the center. This is, of course, not 

 desirable and manifestly does not conform to the description of 

 the Standard for Barred Plymouth Rock color nor the definition 

 of "barring." 



Definition. "Sharply defined" is another adjective applied to 

 "bar" in the Standard for Barred Plymouth Rocks. This means 

 that the line of separation between the light and dark bars shall 

 be sharp and definite. This line of separation should be as 

 sharply defined as though drawn with a chisel-edged pencil. Too 

 often the definition between the dark and light is gradual rather 

 than sharp. Another fault along the same line is the extending 

 of fine dark lines into the light bars. When this fault is so pro- 

 nounced that it becomes noticeable, the plumage presents an 

 appearance more speckled than barred. 



Undercolor. Underbarring is really what undercolor means 

 in a Barred Plymouth Rock. Because of the clause requiring 

 "bars extending the entire length of the feather," the under- 

 barring should be clear and distinct, though the intensity of the 

 dark underbar is never of the same degree as of the surface bar 

 and consequently the same sharp definition can not be expected. 

 Yet, the colors should be clear, the barring comparatively dis- 

 tinct and free from shafting. The regular, narrow, parallel bars 

 should extend to the skin. 



Surface Color. The surface color should be clear, clean, 

 bright and snappy. By this we mean free from foreign color, 

 any tinge of brown or yellow, etc. What are known as rusty 

 shades occur even in well-bred birds, though such must be rather 

 inferior specimens even if well bred. This means that brown is 

 mixed with the color of the plumage to a lesser or greater ex- 

 tent. This is seen most commonly in the shoulder, center of 

 back and wing-bows, more often in males than in females and 

 is more apt to be present in old than in young birds. Sometimes 

 natural fading of the dark bar is responsible for its presence 

 but more often it is in the specimen because of its inheritance. 

 On the edge of the dark bars is where this shade shows most 

 plainly. 



Crocky shades are seen and the term refers to a seemingly 

 thin veneer of black over the plumage of the bird, as though 

 someone with soiled hands had stroked the bird rapidly. Need- 

 less to state, this mars the appearance of the bird so decidedly 

 that an otherwise meritorious specimen becomes of doubtful 

 value. 



